Attachment systems

Abstract

An attachment system principally use on garment ( 10, 30 ) provides a number of aligned loops ( 15 ) on the garment and a number of aligned loops ( 24 ) on a load such as an equipment pack ( 17 ). The load also includes an elongate securing member that extends from the load with a flexible proximal portion ( 26 ) and a stiffened distal portion ( 27 ). The stiffened distal portion ( 27 ) can be very readily threaded through successive ensemble loops ( 15 ) and load loops ( 24 ) to pull the flexible proximal portion ( 26 ) through the loops ( 15, 24 ) to attach the load ( 17 ) to the garment ( 10, 30 ). The stiffened distal portion ( 27 ) is then fed back through the loops ( 15, 24 ) to provide a geometric lock that prevents the load ( 17, 18 ) detaching from the garment ( 10, 30 ). Various loads can be attached in this way.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An attachment system comprising a support surface provided with a plurality of spaced aligned loops, and a load provided with a plurality of spaced aligned loops, the load loops and the support loops being arranged in an aligned succession to define a path through the loops, and an elongate securing member extending from the load and having a flexible proximal portion and a stiffened distal portion extending from the flexible proximal portion to a stiffened free end, the stiffened distal portion and the flexible proximal portion being of approximately the same length, the stiffened free end of the stiffened distal portion being passed through successive support surface loops and load loops in a first direction to draw the flexible proximal portion through said loops in said first direction, to secure the load on the support surface, the stiffened distal portion being resiliently flexible so that the stiffened free end is flexed relative to the remainder of the stiffened distal portion to allow the stiffened distal portion to be re-inserted into said path and pass along said path in a direction opposite to said first direction to locate the distal portion along the path such that the stiffened free end is again passed through each of the successive support surface loops and load loops,
 wherein the length of the stiffened distal portion being such that the stiffened free end of the stiffened distal portion emerges from the path in the first direction before the flexible proximal portion enters the path. 
 
     
     
       2. A system according to  claim 1  wherein the flexible proximal portion and the stiffened distal portion of the or each elongate securing portion is formed from respective portions of a single contiguous member. 
     
     
       3. A system according to  claim 1  wherein the flexible proximal portion and the stiffened distal portion of the or each elongate securing portion is formed separately and connected together to form the associated elongate securing portion. 
     
     
       4. A system according to  claim 1  wherein the stiffened distal portion extends to the stiffened distal end of each securing member. 
     
     
       5. A system according to  claim 1  wherein the stiffened distal portion is formed from an adsorbent material, the stiffened distal portion being treated with a substance to provide said stiffening. 
     
     
       6. A system according to  claim 5  wherein said substance is a resin or a polymer. 
     
     
       7. A system according to  claim 1  wherein the stiffened distal portion carries an elongate stiffening member to provide said stiffening. 
     
     
       8. A system according to  claim 7  wherein the stiffened distal portion is formed with an elongate pocket, the elongate stiffening member being received in said pocket. 
     
     
       9. A system according to  claim 7  wherein the stiffened distal portion is received in a plastics tube shrunk onto the stiffened distal portion. 
     
     
       10. A system according to  claim 1  wherein the elongate securing member is formed by a webbing. 
     
     
       11. A system according to  claim 1  wherein the securing member is one of two or more securing members, each securing member extending in two respective opposite directions through a succession of support surface loops and load loops. 
     
     
       12. A system according to  claim 1  wherein the support surface loops are formed by parallel but spaced lengths of material connected to the support surface at spaced intervals, each loop being formed between adjacent connections. 
     
     
       13. A system according to  claim 1  wherein the load loops are formed by parallel but spaced lengths of material connected to a load surface at spaced intervals, each loop being formed between adjacent connections. 
     
     
       14. A system according to  claim 13  wherein the material is webbing. 
     
     
       15. A system according to  claim 1  wherein the or each securing member has a constant width along the length thereof, the spacing between adjacent connections of the material to the associated surface being such that the or each securing member is a close fit in the associated loops. 
     
     
       16. A system according to  claim 12  wherein the spacing between the lengths of material on the support surface is equal to the width of the material on the load surface, so that each load surface loop is a close fit between two adjacent lengths of material on the support surface. 
     
     
       17. A load for connection to a support surface and provided with a plurality of spaced aligned loops, the load including an elongate securing member extending from the load and including a flexible proximal portion and a stiffened distal portion, the securing member extending through said loops and, in use, cooperating loops on a support surface to secure the load on the support surface, the cooperating loops on the support surface defining a path,
 wherein the stiffened distal portion and the flexible proximal portion being of substantially the same length, and 
 wherein the length of the stiffened distal portion being such that a stiffened free end of the stiffened distal portion emerges from the path before the flexible proximal portion enters the path. 
 
     
     
       18. A load according to  claim 17  wherein the spaced aligned loops are provided on a first surface of the load, a second surface separate from said first surface also including a plurality of spaced loops. 
     
     
       19. A load for connection to a support surface according to  claim 17  wherein said load is military equipment. 
     
     
       20. A load for connection to a support surface and provided with a plurality of spaced aligned loops, the load including an elongate securing member extending from the load and including a flexible proximal portion and a stiffened distal portion, the securing member extending through said loops and, in use, cooperating loops on a support surface to secure the load on the support surface, the cooperating loops on the support surface defining a path, the stiffened distal portion being resiliently flexible,
 wherein the length of the stiffened distal portion being such that a free end of the stiffened distal portion emerges from the path before the flexible proximal portion enters the path. 
 
     
     
       21. A load according to  claim 20  wherein the spaced aligned loops are provided on a first surface of the load, a second surface separate from said first surface also including a plurality of spaced loops.